Arsenal Ready to Use Defender as Bait In Pursuit of ‘New Fabregas’

Arsene Wenger is open to using Barcelona target Laurent Koscielny as bait in his continuing pursuit of Nou Camp youngster Thiago Alcantara.

The Arsenal manager has been strongly linked with interest in the 22 year old Spanish international, who has been compared to former Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas, and recent reports suggest that the talented midfielder is ready to quit the Nou Camp having failed to force his way into a regular starting spot under boss Tito Vilanova.

Alcantara has started just 13 of Barcelona’s 32 La Liga fixtures this season but perhaps even more tellingly hasn’t played a minute of Champions League football since the knockout stages began, highlighting where he stands on Vilanova’s pecking order.

Barcelona are known to be keen on beefing up their rather threadbare central defensive options and have been linked with interest in 27 year old French international Koscielny and it’s that apparent interest that Wenger is keen to make the most of.

The former Lorient man has experienced something of a resurgence in recent months but has seen less first team action than the two players he challenges for first team action with both Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker seemingly preferred to Koscielny on the whole this term.

Wenger sees Alcantara as a player who can add more drive to his midfield and is perhaps a long term replacement for 31 year old Mikel Arteta, who hasn’t had the best of seasons this term, due chiefly to having to fill in as a makeshift holding midfielder for much of the campaign.

Alcantara may well be open to a move away from Barcelona and the possibility of more regular first team football could aid his push for a more prominent role in the Spanish national team set-up.

Barcelona may well be ready to consider an offer that sees something of a bit-part player, albeit one with undoubted potential, used to help in their pursuit of a much needed experienced defensive addition this summer.